Injury heartache for Williams at Miami Masters

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Updated 1822 GMT (0222 HKT) March 24, 2013

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Injury woe for Williams – Venus Williams was forced to withdraw from the tournament after complaining of a lower back injury. The three-time Miami winner, who was set to face fellow American Sloane Stephens in the third round, hopes to return to action next month.

Pole position – Agnieszka Radwanska edged through to the fourth round after seeing off Magadalena Rybarikova in three sets. Radwanska, the defending champion, won the first set 7-5 before losing the second 6-2. But the Pole, ranked fourth in the world, hit back to take the decider 6-3. She will face Sloane Stephens in the next round.

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Li back in business – Li Na continued her comeback from injury with a 6-2 6-4 win over American Varvara Lepchenko. The Chinese star, who missed seven weeks of action after sustaining an ankle problem during her Australian Open final defeat, will face Spain's Garbine Murgurza in the next round.

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All over for Azarenka – Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka was forced to withdraw from the tournament with an ankle injury. "It was really obvious what the decision was couple days ago already," Azarenka told reporters. I just wanted to give my 100 percent possibility to play and today was my last test."

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Sharapova hopes for Sunday best – Maria Sharapova will be hoping to progress to the fourth round Sunday when she takes on fellow Russian Russian Elena Vesnina. Sharapova, who won at Indian Wells last weekend, eased past Canada's Eugenie Bouchard 6-2 6-0 Friday following a power outage.

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Story highlights

Venus Williams withdraws injured from Miami Masters

Caroline Wozniacki suffers shock defeat by wild card

Andy Murray breezes into third round after Tomic win

Sam Querrey wins debut game as U.S. No.1

Venus Williams' hopes of landing a fourth Miami Masters title were left in tatters after the U.S. star was forced to pull out with a back injury.

The seven-time grand slam champion withdrew ahead of her third round clash with fellow American Sloane Stephens Saturday.

Williams, ranked 18th in the world, had hoped to shake off the problem following her win over Japan's Kimiko Date-Krum.

It is the latest setback for the 32-year-old, who in 2011 fought back from Sjogren's syndrome, an auto-immune disease which causes fatigue.